Folding bed



F. L. H. SIMS.

FOLDING BED. APPLICATION FILED DEc.21, |917.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET- l `F. L. H. SIMS.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED 050.21. I9I1.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

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FREDERICK L. H. SIMS, OF TORONTQ, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FOLDING BED.

Application filed December 2l, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. I-I. SIMS, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing in the city of Toronto, county of York7 Provinceof Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Beds, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to folding beds of the type in which the mattressis folded more than once in closing, and in which, when the bed isopened, the mattress l'frame is extended forwardly from the frame, withits length at right angles thereto, to fullbed length, and my object isto devise as simple a construction of the frame and operating mechanismas possible, and one which will provide accommodation for the mattress,bed clothes 'and pillows when the frame is folded without the seat beingraised more Vthan a normal distance from the floor or the seat-backspaced more than a normal distance from the back of the bed frame, toreduce the number of folds usually fneeded in the mattress frames andmattresses of beds of similar type, to provide space for a drawer forbed clothes and other articles, to provide a seat so compact inconstruction that its upper surface is not raised more than a normaldistance from the floor despite the small number of folds in themattress frame and mattress, and to provide in connection with thedevice a normally concealed table.

I attain these objects by means of .the constructions hereinafter morespecifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure l is a vertical section of a folding` bed constructed inaccordance with my invention, the folded position being indicated infull lines and the extended position in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 a side elevation of part of the same showing the mattress framefolded to form a table;

Fig. 3 a plan view of one side of the folding bed in an extendedposition;

Fig. 4 a perspective view of the device in folded position;

Fig. 5 a perspective detail, partly in section, showing the arrangementof the seat;

Fig. 6 a perspective detail showing the automatic'lock and releasemechanism for the intermediate mattress frame section. and

Fig. 7 a perspective detail of the seat,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3G, 1919.

serial No. 20eme partly in section, on a line at right angles to Fig. 5.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different gures.

1 is the bed frame, which may be of any ordinary construction as far asits main features are concerned. The sectional jointed mattress frameemployed therewith comprises an inner section 2, an intermediate section3 and an outer section 4. all suitably pivoted together. The innersection Q is pivotally connected with the frame, the inner ends thereofbeing preferably hooked as shown to fit over suitable pivots 5. Theinnersection is thus easily disconnected at any time or Vhinged back ashereinafter described. The intermediate section is pivotally connectedwith the upper end of a swinging supporting frame G at 31, thelower endof which is pivotally connected with the frame of the device at 32. Thelower part of this supporting frame is finished to form the front orfall board of the bed. The outer section is provided with the fixed legs7 suitably connected by a cross brace 8.

When the device is folded the inner section inclines downwardly andforwardly from its rear end, the intermediate section inclines somewhatforwardly .from the forward end of the inner section, and thesupporting` frame 6 is substantially vertical. The outer section liesover the other two sections and may be substantially horizontal orslightly inclined forwardly as shown in Fig. l. The mattress, which issuitably secured to the wire mesh fabric 9 of the mattress frame, isthus only folded twice at right angles as shown, thus saving one foldover the ordinary folding bed of each type.

lWhen the device is extended the mattress sections come into alinement,the legs 7 rest on the floor and the swinging supporting frame 6 movesto the inclined position shown'in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The parts haveno tendency to depart from this position as long` as there is no weighton the intermediate or inner sections, or a weight less than anysupported on the outer section. I deem it preferable, however, toprovide local supports for the intermediate and inner sections to takethe strain of any weight placed on these sections and to prevent anytendency of the outer section to swing up under such conditions.

I provide therefore at each side a supporting leg l0 preferably of bellcrank form, which is preferably pivoted on the bracket l1 depending fromthe intermediate section. One of these brackets is employed at each sideforming the ends of a cross brace l2 which takes the strain of the wirefabric of the intermediate section. The supporting members, under theiniuence of gravity, tend to fall to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 6. Downward pressure on theintermediate section is thus transmitted to the swinging supportingframe and is resolved into a downward pressure on the pivots of thelatter and a longitudinal strain on the intermediate and inner sectionsof the mattress frame.

Means are provided for releasing the supporting members when the outersection is swung up relative to the intermediate section in the processof folding the bed. For this purpose I provide at each side a slidingmember 13 connected with one of the side members of the intermediatesection by means of headed rivets or bolts la passing through slots inthe members. The outer end of each sliding member is bent upwardlysomewhat so as to be engaged by the outer section a little distanceabove its pivot. When the outer section is swung up sufficiently far, itengages the outer end of the sliding member and the inner end of eachsliding member in turn engages the arm l5 of the bell crank leg, androcks the latter suiiiciently so that as the intermediate section foldsdown, the supporting legs ride up the supporting frame and assume theposition shown in full lines in Fig. l.

p In order that the inner mattress frame section may be used as a table,I provide it with the hinged legs 19, which, when the bed is extendedand the inner section turned over as shown in Fig. 2, will rest on theouter end of the outer mattress frame section. A board 20 connected bypivoted links 21 forms the table top. Then the bed is in use, the linksallow the board to swing away from the mattress frame sectionsufficiently far that the swinging mattress frame member will notcontact therewith.

The seat back 22 is of ordinary construction, but is secured to a crossbar :23 pivoted in the ends of the bed frame. A dog 2li is pivote/d onthe bed frame and is adapted to engage in a notch 25 formed in the crossbar 23 when the seat back has been swung up out of the way, thusretaining it securely in position until deliberately released.

The seat 16 is of novel construction and arrangement. In constructingthe seat I abandon the use of the double conical spiral springs hithertoused by upholsterers to provide resilience as it is impossible to usethem without unduly raising the level of the top of the seat from thefloor. I secure the necessary resilience and strength to support anyreasonable weight by means of the specitic construction shown in thedrawings. On the side members of the outer mattress frame section, onthe part of same which is uppermost w ien the device is folded, Irigidly secure angle-iron bars 26 with their perpendicular limbs inward,and to these bars I secure a wooden molding 27 suitably fitted to theouter sides of the same and suitably shaped as shown to avoid sharpcorners.,

rihese angle bars 26 are pierced for the usual fabric springs 28, onlyinstead of fabbric I employ net Work 29 of thin strap metal, which isthus supported normally about an inch out of contact with the fabric 9for supporting the mattress. This net work preferably has at its forwardend a coiled resilient member 3() as shown, provided to form afoundation for the front edge contour of the upholsterino. About thisresilient member the canvas cover of the gridiron is piped, beingstitched into a tube. A suitable flap depends from the piping and isattached to the wooden filling of the swinging support frame 6.

The seat is suitably filled or stuifed and is then upholstered inleather, or. other suitable material. side springs gives suiiicientresilience to maintain the crown of the seat in every direction at thesame normal tension as can be attained by the well known conicalsprings. lhen a person or persons sufficiently heavy are upon the seat,the metal net work is depressed until it forms contact with the fabric6, which supports the mattress when the bed is open, but which, ofcourse, is doing no work when the bed is folded, and the mattresssprings are thus used to reinforce the seat springs adding theirresilience and strength to the seat. By this means a thoroughlysatisfactory seat is obtained, and all with a thickness of considerablyless than three inches as compared with the thickness of eight inchesnecessary for the old style seat with conical springs.. IWhen 1t 1sdesired to use the device as a bed, the seat back 22 is raised to theposi-- tion shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. rIlie legs 7 are thengrasped and the outer section i of the mattress frame swung forward. Assoon as this reaches the position of alinement with the intermediatesection 8, the latter is tilted up and the swinging supporting frametilted forward. The section 2 is thus lifted and the parts assume ltheposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. WV hen the parts reach thisposition the supporting member l() drops to the position shown in dottedlines, thus supporting the inner end of the intermediate section andalso the outer end of the inner section of the mattress frame. When thedevice is to be folded, the outer section e is raised. This section, byengage- The metal net work with its ment with the sliding member 13,releases the supporting member 10 and permits the intermediate and innersection to drop as the swinging supporting` frame 6 is raised to theperpendicular by continued movement `of the part 4C of the frame. Whenthe part 6 has re-assumed the vertical position, the part l is `turneddown to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and the seat backrestored to its original position.

From the above description it will be seen that the device is verysimple in con struction, necessitates only two folds in the mattress7employs a minimum of moving parts, and does not require the use ofsprings to either bala-nce the frame or actuate any of the parts used inthe operation of folding or unfolding the device.

That I claim as my invention is l. In a folding bed, the combination ofa bed frame; a sectional mattress frame coinprising an inner sectionpivotally supported at its inner end on fixed pivots, an intermediatesection and an outer section all hinged together; a swinging supportingframe pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end tothe intermediate section adjacent its outer end; a supporting leg ateach side pivoted on the intermediate section and adapted to engage theback of the swinging frame to hold the inner and intermediate sectionsin alinement; a releasing arm extending from each supporting leg andmeans carried by the intermediate section and engageable by the outersection when swung up on the intermediate section adapted to actuate thereleasing arm.

2. In a folding bed; the combination of a bed frame; a sectionalmattress frame comprising an inner section detachably and pivotallysupported at its inner end, an intermediate section and an outer sectionall hinged together; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lowerend on the bed frame and at its upper end to the inter1nediate sectionadjacent its outer end; legs connected to the outer end of the outersection; and legs hinged to the end of the inner section adapted to reston the outer section when the inner section is disconnected from the bedframe and turned over the outer section.

3. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectionalmattress frame comprising an inner section detachably and pivotallysupported at its inner end, an intermediate section and an outer sectionall hinged together; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lowerend on the bed frame and at its upper end to the interme diate sectionadjacent its outer end; legs connected to the outer end of the outersection; legs hinged to the end of the inner section adapted to rest onthe outer section when the inner section is disconnected from the bedframe and turned over the outer section; and a board adapted to form atable top; and pivoted links connecting said board beneath the side ofthe inner section which is normally undermost.

4. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectionalmattress frame comprising an inner section having its inner endpivotally supported at bed level on fixed pivots; an intermediatesection and an outer section all hinged together, the outer section whenthe bed is folded lying above the inner section and spaced therefrom ata suitable level to support a seat; a swinging supporting frame pivotedat its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directly pivotedto the intermediate section adjacent its outer end; and legs secured tothe outer section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is open.

' 5. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectionalmattress frame coni prising an inner section having its inner endpivotally supported at bed level on fixed pivots; an intermediatesection and an outer section all hinged together; the outer section whenthe bed is folded lying above the inner section and spaced therefrom ata suitable level to support a seat; a swinging supporting frame pivotedat its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directly pivotedto the intermediate section adj acent its outer end; legs secured to theouter section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is open; and asupporting leg pivotally carried on the intermediate section adapted atits lower end to engage the su porting frame, when the bed is extended,tie upper end of the leg forming means whereby it may bev swung toengage with or disengage from the mattress frame supporting member.

6. A folding bed as set forth in claim 5 provided with means whereby theswinging of the outer mattress frame section on the intermediate sectiondisengages the supporting leg from the supporting member of the bedframe.

7 In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattressframe comprising an inner section having an inner end pivotallysupported at its inner end at bed level on fixed pivots; an intermediatesection and an outer section all hinged together, the outer section whenthe bed is folded lying above the inner section and spaced therefro-m ata suitable level vto support a seat; a swinging supporting framepivoted'at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directlypivoted to the intermediate section adjacent its outer end; legs securedto the outer section adapted to rest on the fioor when the bed is open;a supporting leg at each side of the frame pivotally carried on themattress frame to support the adjacent lOO ends of the intermediate andinner sections; and means for swinging the said legs to an inoperativeposition operable by swinging up the outer mattress frame section on theintermediate section.

8. A folding bed as set forth in claim lin which a bracket provided withflaring legs is secured to each side of the intermediat section and antangle cross bar is secured b y its flanges to the legs of saidbrackets; and supporting legs pivoted on said brackets adapted at theirlower ends to engage the supporting frame, when the bed is extended, theupper ends of the legs forming v means whereby they may be swung toengage with or disengage from the mattress iframe supporting member.

9. ln a folding bed, the combination o a bed frame; a sectional mattressirame comprising an inner section pivotally supported at its inner endon fixed pivots at the level of the bed when extended and normally inclined downwardly and forwardly from its pivots, an intermediate sectionhinged on the inner section and inclined 'forwardly and upwardly to apoint above the said bed level, an outer section hinged on the outer endof the intermediate section and normally lying over the other sectionsso that its then upper side may carry a seat; a support for said outersection when in its normal position; a supporting frame normallysubstantially vertical pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and atits upper end directly on the intermediate section adja cent its outerend; and legs secured to the outer section adapted to rest on the floorwhen the bed is open.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this seventh day of December', 1917.

FREDERICK L. M. SIMS.

CID

